AUSA Constitution and By-Laws

(Last revised April 2010 by Senate Chair Gina Alcobia)

Preamble

The Aurora University Student Association establishes itself as a representative body of the students.

As the Aurora University Student Association, we firmly uphold the University's mission statement, the Code of Ethics, and the core values including: Integrity, citizenship, continuous learning and excellence.

In the pursuit of those purposes, the Aurora University Student Association does hereby establish this constitution for the Aurora University community.

Bill of Rights

The following rights and freedoms shall be provided and guaranteed to each student at Aurora University and therefore will be applied to the Aurora University Student Association;

The right to receive financial aid from public and/or private funds

The right to participate freely in university or student sponsored activities without discrimination based on, but not limited to, a student's race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, or gender

The right to freedom of expression, discussion, and inquiry in regards to the course environment and the right to evaluation based solely upon academic performance

The right to protection against discrimination concerning a students' personal views, beliefs, and/or associations

The right to establish and maintain a democratic student government in which each student shall have an equal opportunity to participate and establish University policy

The right to be free from a mandatory dress code, within reason, unless otherwise stated

The right to petition institutional authority for the change in either academic or nonacademic regulations

The right to equal treatment within the academic environment regardless of non-university financial status

The aforementioned rights shall not act to nullify or limit any further expressed and implied freedoms possessed by students

Article I: Name

The name of the association shall be the Aurora University Student Association, hereinafter referred to as the AUSA.

Article II: Purpose

Realizing the interdependence of the Aurora University community, the AUSA endeavors to promote goals and ideals which shall benefit and further all members. The AUSA strives to guarantee the rule of the majority, the right of the minority, and the freedom of students to inform and be informed as their conscience dictates. The AUSA shall strive toward basic human, academic, and social freedoms for the students of Aurora University and the surrounding community.

Article III: Executive Board

Section 1: Officers

The officers of the AUSA shall be the President, Vice President, Senate Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2: Qualifications. Each of the AUSA officers must:

Clause 1: Be an Aurora University student and a member of the AUSA

Clause 2: Throughout each officer's term he or she must have and maintain a cumulative and semester grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If either GPA falls below a 2.5, the officer will be placed on probation. If the officer does not show significant progress, he or she may be removed from his or her position.

Section 3: Election

Clause 1. All officers of the AUSA shall be elected from votes by the student body of Aurora University.

Clause 2. To serve on the Executive Board as the Vice President, Senate Chair, Treasurer or Secretary, one must have met all requirements of being on the AUSA during the previous year. In regards to the office of the President, one must serve a minimum of one year on the Executive Board in addition to the one (1) year Senator requirement.

Clause 3. The elections for the Executive Board will take place in the month of March, during the first two (2) full consecutive weeks. In case of conflict, decisions will be made by the Executive Board.

Section 4: Term of Office

The term of office of the AUSA Executive Board shall be approximately one (1) calendar year in length, beginning on the day of their Inauguration. Said Inauguration shall take place at least twenty-eight (28) days, but no more than thirty-five (35) days, after the spring election.

Section 5: Succession

Clause 1. Upon the removal or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall assume the office of the President until the presidential term ends. In the event that the offices of the President and Vice President become vacated, the Senate Chair will act as temporary presiding officer and will call a special election within two (2) weeks to elect a new President and Vice President.

Clause 2. In the event of the removal or resignation of the Vice President, the President will appoint a new Vice President within three (3) weeks. This appointment is subject to a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval by the AUSA Student Senate.

Clause 3. In the event that all of the Executive Board positions become vacated at the same time, the members of the Student Senate with aid from the Director of Student Activities will act as temporary presiding officers of the AUSA and as the Executive Board. The Director of Student Activities will then call a special election to fill the vacated offices. The procedures to be followed shall be the same as any other Executive Board election, with the exception of the month requirement.

Section 6: Duties and Responsibilities of the AUSA President

Clause 1. Shall have the option to veto any legislation passed by the Student Senate. In the case of budgetary matters, the AUSA President may exercise a line-item veto.

Clause 2. Shall be an ex-officio member to all student committees

Clause 3. Shall preside over General Assembly and Executive Board meetings, or shall appoint a representative to preside when needed.

Clause 4. Shall have the responsibility of providing information concerning the AUSA to established groups or organizations on campus.

Clause 5. Shall request reports if necessary, based on activity, structure, and function of all organizations receiving full or partial funding from AUSA

Clause 6. Shall present an agenda and objectives to the AUSA Student Senate to be discussed and planned for implementation.

Clause 7. Shall address the AUSA Student Senate within one (1) week after the Presidential Inauguration.

Clause 6. Shall be in charge of all aspects of the AUSA election processes, with the exception of physically manning the tables. These include: making sure that elections for Freshmen Senators, the Executive Board, and the General Senate, and special elections if deemed necessary at the appropriate time. Additional affiliated responsibilities include securing a polling location, creating, distributing and advertising election packets, meeting with the Advisor to clarify candidate credentials, creating ballots, advertising the elections to the student body, and making sure the elections are manned by non-running AUSA members. Afterwards, the Senate Chair shall meet with the Advisor to tally the votes, call each candidate, clarify their specific election result, and officially offering the position to the elected. When each position has been officially accepted, a mass e-mail to the students is to be sent.

Clause 7. Shall chair the Constitution Committee.

Clause 8. Shall retain all rights and responsibilities of a Senator.

Clause 9. Shall have a vote within the Senate.

Clause 10. Shall be an ex-officio member to all student committees.

Clause 11. Shall fulfill all duties, responsibilities, and obligations that may arise throughout the term.

Section 9: Duties and Responsibilities of the AUSA Treasurer

Clause 1. To manage the AUSA Senate account, General account, Executive account, and Community Development Fund account. The Treasurer shall maintain all purchase order books and handle all account transactions for the aforementioned accounts.

Clause 2. To prepare reports on the financial positions of the AUSA and to provide said reports to the Student Senate in written and/or verbal form.

Clause 3. To inform all organizations that petition funds from the AUSA of the amount of their appropriation.

Clause 4. To maintain information on the status of all organizations reviewing partial or full funding from the AUSA and to make such information available to the AUSA Student Senate and the AUSA President.

Clause 5. To supervise AUSA funded organizations' account balances and sends each organizations a statement of their account. It is the responsibility of the Treasurer to ensure that organizations are not allowed to accrue future debt, if one already exists.

Clause 6. Shall have a vote within the Senate.

Clause 7. To fulfill all duties, responsibilities, and obligations that may arise throughout the term.

Section 10: Duties and responsibilities of the AUSA Secretary

Clause 1. To record the minutes of all meetings of the AUSA Student Senate and to maintain records of the status of all motions and resolutions presented to the AUSA Student Senate.

Clause 2. To record the attendance of the Executive Board and Student Senators.

Clause 3. Shall have a vote within the Senate.

Clause 4. To fulfill all duties, responsibilities, and obligations that may arise throughout the term.

Section 11: Advisor

Clause 1. To advise and oversee the AUSA Senate meetings and AUSA Executive Board, to give advice in suggested situations, be a loyal and honest advisor, keep up-to-date files, attend all required meetings, and be personable.

Clause 2. If a problem were to arise that may cause any dismissal of the Advisor of AUSA, and/or is asked to leave the AUSA a two-thirds (2/3) vote and the Dean of Students shall relieve and/or make expectance of a new Advisor.

Clause 3. To fulfill all duties, responsibilities, and obligations that may arise throughout the term.

Section 12: Petitions

The Executive Board of the AUSA shall be responsible for the collection of any and all petitions of the AUSA and to deliver them to the AUSA Student Senate for appropriate action.

Article V: Student Senate

Section 1: Purpose

Clause 1: The AUSA Student Senate is a body designed to protect, inform, serve, represent, and lead those persons from whom it derives its right to govern.

Section 2: Members

Clause 1: There shall be four (4) elected members from the Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes. There may be a fifth (5th) selected individual from each class to serve as a backup if any circumstances may arise with the active members. This fifth (5th) individual does not have voting rights and is not required to attend AUSA meetings, unless they are called upon to fill one (1) of the four (4) Senator positions.

Section 3: Election

Clause 1: All officers of the AUSA Senate shall be elected from votes by the entire student body of Aurora University

Clause 2. To become the AUSA President, one must be an active member of the AUSA Senate for one (1) and serve on the AUSA Executive Board for one (1) year. For the AUSA Vice President, Senate Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary Positions, one must be an active member of the AUSA Senate or the AUSA Executive Board.

Clause 3. The elections for the Executive Board will take place in the month of March. Candidates will be allowed to start campaigning to the student body of Aurora University the third (3rd) week of March. Following by the actual elections being held the fourth (4th) week of March. However if date conflicts arise due to Spring Break, campaigning will be the second (2nd) week and elections will be held the third (3rd) week of March.

Clause 4. In the event that there is a vacancy before the fall semester in the Sophomore, Junior or Senior Senate, the positions can be filled through another election if no alternate is available. This election will be help in conjunction with the September, Freshman Elections.

Section 4: Succession

Clause 1. In the event of a removal or a resignation of a Senator, the Senate Chair shall contact the alternate for that class and offer the position to him or her.

Clause 2. If there is no alternate, or the alternate declines, the Student Senate, the Executive Board and Advisor shall recommend a replacement to the AUSA Student Senate.

Section 5: Qualifications. Each of the AUSA members must:

Clause 1. Be an elected member of the AUSA

Clause 2. Have and maintain a cumulative and semester grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If either GPA falls below a 2.5, the AUSA member will be placed on probation. If the AUSA member does not show significant progress, he or she may be removed from his or her position.

Section 6. Duties and Responsibilities of Student Senate

Clause 1. It shall work in coordination with on campus judicial bodies in establishing rules and a code of conduct for the student body.

Clause 2. It shall create such a hoc committees as it shall deem necessary.

Clause 4. It shall decide any and all issues arising over AUSA Student Senate membership.

Clause 5. It shall have the authority to rescind the voting privileges of any AUSA Student Senator for reasons of no attendance. Each succeeding AUSA Student Senate shall have the right to determine specific attendance requirements. The AUSA has given a Student Senator allowance to miss two (2) unexcused meetings.

Clause 6. It shall have the duty and responsibility of abiding by the AUSA Student Senate contract signed at the beginning of each semester.

Clause 7. It shall have the option of overriding any presidential veto or line item veto with a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the body of the Senate.

Section 7: Legislation

It shall have the sole authority of enacting legislation regarding the AUSA by means of a motion. The AUSA President or any AUSA member may suggest legislation, in the form of a resolution, to the AUSA student senate.

Clause 8. It is the responsibility of each Senator to complete all tasks assigned by the Executive Board or Senate Chair by the date designated.

Article VI: Committees of the AUSA Student Senate

Sections 1: Titles

There shall be three (3) permanent standing committees of the AUSA Student Senate. These committees shall be called the Public Relations, Appropriations, and Constitution.

Section 2: Membership

The AUSA Senate, incompliance with the following specifications, shall determine the membership of those committees

Clause 1. Each standing committee shall be chaired by an Executive Board member and will contain AUSA Student Senators as members. These members' terms will run the duration of the academic year.

Clause 2. (New) Each ad hoc committee shall be chaired or co-chaired by Senators. These members' terms will run the duration of the committee.

Clause 3. There shall be a minimum of two (2) AUSA Student Senators assigned to each committee.

Clause 4. The AUSA President shall have the power to select the chairperson of the committees.

Section 3: General Duties and responsibilities of the Committees of the AUSA Student Senate

Clause 1. Matters may be referred to a committee at the discretion of the President.

Clause 2. All matters referred to committees shall remain in committee until a recommendation is made, unless the President inquires about much matters, at which point the committee shall provide the requested information.

Clause 3. All recommendations shall take the form of a motion. If a committee decides that no action is necessary, it shall make a report of "No New Business" to the AUSA Student Senate.

Clause 4. The AUSA Student Senate, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, can call out of committee any matter currently under consideration.

Section 4: Duties and responsibilities of the Public Relation Committee

Clause 1. Shall inform all students of meeting places, times, and dates.

Clause 2. Shall be in charge of advertising, publicity, and marketing.

Clause 3. Shall promote for AUSA sponsored events.

Clause 4. Shall be a member of the AUSA.

Clause 5. Shall give both an electronic and hard copy of the revised Constitution to the incoming Executive Board.

Section 5: Duties and responsibilities of the Public Relation Committee

Clause 5. Shall be a member of the AUSA or of the Organizational Council.

Section 7. Duties and responsibilities of the Constitution Committee

Clause 1. Shall make sure constitution is up-to-date at the start of every year.

Clause 2. Shall make any arrangements of the Election of the Senate.

Clause 3. If any vacancy arises, an Election to add members could be necessary.

Clause 4. Shall be a member of the AUSA.

Clause 5. Shall give both an electronic and hard copy of the revised Constitution to the incoming Executive Board.

Clause 6. The Constitution Committee is hereby given the authority to change any spelling, capitalization, and punctuation in regards to proper grammar in the Constitution as deemed necessary without the approval of the Senate.

STANDING COMMITTEE:

Clause 4: The Constitution Committee is hereby given the authority to change any number in regards to the chronological order of the Constitution as dean necessary without the approval of the Senate.

Article VII: Ad hoc Committees of the AUSA Senate

Section 1: Titles

There may be committees created by the AUSA Student Senate if deemed necessary. These committees shall be names in relation to mission.

Section 2: Membership

The AUSA Student Senate in compliance with the following specifications shall determine the membership of these committees:

Clause 1. Each separate committee shall be headed by Student Senate members and will contain AUSA Student Senate as members. These members' terms will run as long as the committee is active.

Clause 2. There shall be a minimum of two AUSA Student Senators assigned to each committee.

Clause 3. The AUSA President shall have the power to select the chairpersons of the committees. The committee chairperson or one of the co-chairpersons must have served on the AUSA Senate for a minimum of one (1) year.

Section 3: General duties and responsibilities of the Ad hoc Committees of the AUSA Senate

The duties and responsibilities of the committees will be decided upon on a per committee basis.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section 1: All Aurora University Students

Meetings of the AUSA may be held at the discretion of the AUSA Student Senate or the AUSA President.

Section 2: AUSA Student Senate

Clause 1. Frequency of meetings. The AUSA Student Senate shall meet as a body at least once a week according to the schedule determined by the AUSA at the beginning of each semester and shall meet at other times at the decision of the President.

Clause 3. Attendance. Attendance at all AUSA meetings by each Senator is mandatory. If an AUSA Student Senator cannot attend, they are responsible to inform the Executive Board at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the AUSA meeting per semester. After two (2) unexcused absences in a single semester, the Executive Board will ask the Senator to resign.

In case of any emergencies, the Senators shall inform the Executive Board of their absence with reason.

Clause 4. Tardiness. In the event of a Senator arriving late, it will be considered a tardy. For every two (2) tardies in a single semester, it will result to an unexcused absence.

Section 3: Committees of the AUSA Student Senate

Clause 1. Permanent standing committees of the AUSA Student Senate shall meet on a monthly basis and as deemed necessary by the committee chairperson.

Clause 3: Each Senator must attend at least two-thirds (2/3) of all of his or her committee meetings. If a Senator is unable to attend due to a conflict, they are to inform a Committee Chair at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting. If the Senator is not compliant with this standard of conduct, three (3) unexcused absences will result in an overall AUSA tardy.

Clause 4: Each Senator is limited to serving as a Chair or Co-chair of a maximum of three (3) committees per year.

Article IX: Referendum and Impeachment

Section 1: Referendum

Clause 1. If any member of the AUSA believes that legislation passed by the AUSA Student Senate is contrary to the desire of the AUSA, he or she may petition for a referendum. This petition must contain the signatures of at least twenty-five (25%) percent of the AUSA members and be presented to the AUSA President within two (2) academic weeks of the passage of the legislation.

Section 2: Recall of the AUSA Student Senate

Clause 1. If any member of the AUSA believes that and elected or appointed official is not meeting the requirements of his or her position, he or she may petition for a recall. This petition must contain the signature of at least twenty-five (25%) percent of the AUSA members and be presented to the AUSA President.

Clause 2. A recall election shall be held within two (2) weeks after the presentation of the recall, the AUSA Executive Board will decide the date for the election.

Clause 3. Two thirds (2/3) of the AUSA must vote for the election to be valid.

Clause 4. A three-fourths (3/4) majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to remove an official from office.

Section 3: Impeachment of the Executive Board

The rules governing the impeachment of the officers of Executive Board by the AUSA Student Senate are as followed:

Clause 1. If any member of the AUSA believes that and Executive Board member is not meeting the requirements of his or her position, he or she may submit an accusation (articles) for an impeachment. This accusation must contain the signatures of at least twenty-five (25) percent of the AUSA members and be presented to the AUSA President.

Clause 2. Impeachment hearings shall be held within two (2) weeks after the submission of an official accusation for the impeachment of any Executive Board member.

Clause 3. At the impeachment hearing the accused shall be given ample time to present his or her case.

Clause 4. The highest-ranking officer of an AUSA who is present shall chair the impeachment hearing. The impeachment hearing cannot be a part of a regular meeting of the AUSA Student Senate; a special meeting of the AUSA Student Senate must be held.

Clause 5. The accused shall not be considered a member of the quorum.

Clause 6. After the accused has presented his or her case, he or she shall be allowed to remain present and defend himself or herself during the ensuring discussion by the AUSA Student Senate.

Clause 7. If a member of the AUSA moves to call the question, a vote must ensure to approve the motion. If the motion passes, the Chair shall terminate discussion and vote on the item at hand. Following the acceptance of the question, the accused shall be excused from further proceedings.

Clause 8. Upon exclusion of the accused, no more discussion shall take place, and a secret ballot shall be taken.

Clause 9. Two thirds (2/3) of the AUSA must vote for the elections to be valid.

Clause 10. A three-fourths (3/4) majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to remove an official from office.

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1: Rules

The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the entirety of this organization for all cases in which they are applicable and not inconsistent with the Constitution, By-Laws, or other governing documents of the AUSA.

Section 2: Parliamentarian

The Senate Chair shall serve as parliamentarian. The individual shall serve in an advisory position to the President with regard to parliamentary procedure.

Article XI: Amendment Procedure

Section 1: Amendments

The AUSA Constitution can be amended by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senators present at the time of the vote at the meeting of the AUSA Student Senate. This Constitution may also be amended by a referendum vote of the AUSA.

Section 2: Revision

The Senate Chair shall refer the proposed amendment to the Constitution Committee for revisions for a minimum of one (1) week.

Section 3: Presentation to the Senate

The Constitution Committee shall then discuss the proposal and draft it into final form and present it to the AUSA Student Senate.

Section 4: Senate Review

The AUSA Student Senate shall then hold a minimum of a one (1) week reading period to review the amendment.

Section 5: Approval.

If the AUSA Student Senate passes an amendment, it shall be sent to the AUSA President for his or her signature or veto. If the AUSA President vetoes the measure, it shall be sent back to the AUSA Student Senate where it may be overridden by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the AUSA Student Senate. If the veto of the AUSA President is overridden, the measure shall be adopted.

Amendments:

Amendment 1: Chair of Special Initiatives

This position will be filled by an Aurora University Student, which is appointed for an academic year, by the AUSA Executive Board. The student will be in charge of developing and implementing special initiatives as needed/decided on by the Aurora University Student Association.